[ Up on their feet now, Fraser didn't even pay attention to the fact that he was still holding Ray's hand, surveying the mess they'd made of the bed together; rumpled sheets, wood shavings and half-eaten chocolates. At least one part of the room finally looked like someone had used it, and that took the edge off the scrubbed up overplushed perfection of the whole place, made it somewhere people might actually be able to be people.
Yes, it was the end of an era, he agreed, but it was the start of a new one. He was a little too drunk to be able to pin down any details, but the excitement was buzzing in him already. No more Chicago. He'd go back, and he'd take the only thing about Chicago that really mattered with him. The only thing in his life that really mattered any more. Ray--Ray, Ray, Ray. His Ray. Not Stella's; no longer Stella's, who had another Ray for her own.
God, it sounded pathetic, but he'd follow this man around like a lost puppy. North, East, West or South, he'd go where Ray went.
His hand was warm in Ray's, and at last he realised he was still holding it - for the second time that day - and he squeezed his partner's fingers briefly. It was a solid anchor even if it felt like bizarre unreality. Standing in this hotel room holding Ray's hand and dreaming of Canada.
Wait, though. See what rhythm he's got? ]
Oh Ray--oh, I don't know. [ He pulled his hand away reticently. ] I can dance but I'm not--I mean, you and Stella. You dance beautifully, Ray. I can't possibly compete with that.
[ He bit his lip, then reached for Ray's elbow. ]
But maybe you could teach me. It isn't as though you'll have a great choice of dance partners in the Territories, and a man has needs.
[ Oh. That wasn't what he'd meant to say. He ducked his chin again quickly. Cut and run, get down where there were people and he couldn't embarrass himself any more--that sounded like a plan. ] Shall we? [ It was already a riot of noise downstairs. The sound of music had begun to drift up through the garden, and there was a sudden burst of a wedding song chorus in Italian that Fraser didn't recognise. People were settling in, and the chink of glasses rang underneath everything else. He set off for the door. ]
no subject
Yes, it was the end of an era, he agreed, but it was the start of a new one. He was a little too drunk to be able to pin down any details, but the excitement was buzzing in him already. No more Chicago. He'd go back, and he'd take the only thing about Chicago that really mattered with him. The only thing in his life that really mattered any more. Ray--Ray, Ray, Ray. His Ray. Not Stella's; no longer Stella's, who had another Ray for her own.
God, it sounded pathetic, but he'd follow this man around like a lost puppy. North, East, West or South, he'd go where Ray went.
His hand was warm in Ray's, and at last he realised he was still holding it - for the second time that day - and he squeezed his partner's fingers briefly. It was a solid anchor even if it felt like bizarre unreality. Standing in this hotel room holding Ray's hand and dreaming of Canada.
Wait, though. See what rhythm he's got? ]
Oh Ray--oh, I don't know. [ He pulled his hand away reticently. ] I can dance but I'm not--I mean, you and Stella. You dance beautifully, Ray. I can't possibly compete with that.
[ He bit his lip, then reached for Ray's elbow. ]
But maybe you could teach me. It isn't as though you'll have a great choice of dance partners in the Territories, and a man has needs.
[ Oh. That wasn't what he'd meant to say. He ducked his chin again quickly. Cut and run, get down where there were people and he couldn't embarrass himself any more--that sounded like a plan. ] Shall we? [ It was already a riot of noise downstairs. The sound of music had begun to drift up through the garden, and there was a sudden burst of a wedding song chorus in Italian that Fraser didn't recognise. People were settling in, and the chink of glasses rang underneath everything else. He set off for the door. ]